Roslyn Fuller, Assistant Director of Procurement, 408-491-7419
County of Santa Clara / Board of Supervisors
Policy relating to the purchase of recycled
paper and recycled paper products
In order to encourage active participation by County Government in efforts to reduce the volume
of waste paper in the solid waste stream, the County shall employ the following actions to
purchase paper products made from recycled materials whenever possible. For purposes of this
policy "recycled paper products" are defined as described in Section 12200 of the Public
Contracts Code, to be material with no less than 50 percent of the total weight consisting of
secondary and post-consumer waste, with at least 10 percent of the total being post-consumer
waste.
1. The Purchasing Agent shall establish and maintain procedures and specifications for the
purchase of paper and paper products which give preference, whenever feasible, to the
purchase of recycled paper, and paper products containing recycled paper. Products that
do not meet the definition of 50 percent recycled material content, but do contain some
percentage of recycled material, shall be preferred over virgin materials.
2. The Purchasing Agent shall purchase recycled paper and paper products, instead of
unrecycled paper or paper products, whenever such recycled paper and paper products
are available at comparable cost of unrecycled paper and paper products, and when
fitness and quality are similar.
3. The Purchasing Agent shall aggressively pursue the acquisition of recycled materials
whenever possible without incurring unreasonable additional costs. The Purchasing
Agent shall provide a reasonable price preference to the suppliers of recycled paper or
paper products over the lowest bid or price quoted by suppliers offering unrecycled paper
or paper products. The amount of the preference shall be at the discretion of the
Purchasing Agent depending upon the prices quoted and the percentage content of
recycled material in each product.
4. When recycled products are used, reasonable efforts shall be undertaken to label the
products to indicate that they contain recycled materials. Departments shall use letterhead
stationary and envelopes that include post- consumer recycled content and indicate on the
paper and envelopes that they contain recycled material. Other recycled products used by
the County shall also indicate that they contain recycled material to the extent practicable.
5. Existing copiers and computer printers shall be evaluated for compatibility with recycled
paper products, and recycled paper products will be acquired in accordance with the
above sections whenever compatibility exists. As new or replacement equipment is
purchased, compatibility with recycled paper products shall be an important selection
criteria.
6. The County will support, to the greatest extent feasible, other government agencies and
local business efforts to develop comprehensive, consistent and effective procurement
practices that stimulate markets for recycled paper products.
7. All related departments shall work cooperatively to further the purposes of this policy.